World Archives Project

Have you ever played the alphabet game?  There are many varieties of this game but the basic gist is to list or find things in alphabetical order.  We like to take road trips so we try to find signs with the letters in the alphabet, or licence plates, or objects…  The alphabet game is a good way to pass the time, and have a little fun so I thought we would take this idea and make it into a challenge.

I couldn’t find a project for every letter so I went through and picked projects in alphabetical order with quite a few letters being skipped. If by chance a project is completed before the stated day we will select another project in its place.  The top keyer and reviewer/arbitrator for each two day challenge will have their choice of one of three prizes – FTM 2012, DNA test or a 3 Month World Subscription.*

• October 13-14: American Volunteer Soldiers, Mexican War, 1846-1848
• October 17-18: California Railroad Employment Records, 1862-1950 & Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Tax Lists, 1819-1869
• October 21-22: Dorset, England, Quarter Session Order Books, 1625-1951
• October 25-26: Eure-et-Loir, France, Selected Holocaust Records
• October 29-30: Kansas, City and County Census, 1919-1978
• November 2-3: Liverpool, United Kingdom, Crew Lists 1860-1919
• November 6-7: New South Wales, Australia, Government Gazettes, 1853-1899
• November 10-11: Pavia, Lombardia, Italia: Registri di Matrimonio, 1866-1937 (Registers of Marriage)
• November 14-15: Texas, Convict Ledgers and Conduct Registries, 1849-1970
• November 18-19: U.S., 1928 Baker Roll and Records, Eastern Cherokee Enrolling Commission, 1924-1929
• November 22-25: Take your pick – Overall Top Keyer and Top Reviewer

We’ve got a few days to practise and prepare – do a few finger stretches, read over the instructions, fill your water bottle, tune up your keyboard and get ready for some friendly competition.

*Terms and Conditions: The Project of the Day Challenges (each a “Challenge”) are administered by Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 360 West 4800 North, Provo, Utah 84604, USA (“Ancestry”). The Challenges are open to contributors resident in USA, UK, Canada and Australia, aged 18 or over, except employees or agents of Ancestry or its group companies. Each Challenge begins at 00:01 MST and ends at 23:59 MST on the relevant day.  A prize will be awarded to: (1) the contributor who keys the most entries, and (2) the contributor who arbitrates or reviews the most entries, during the period of the Challenge.  The prizes will consist of either (i) a copy of  FTM, (ii) a 3 month Ancestry membership, or (iii) a DNA test. The prizes cannot be exchanged for money. Contributors may win one prize only. The winners will be notified by e-mail after the end of each Challenge.  If a prize winner cannot be contacted within two weeks of being notified, Ancestry reserves the right to award the prize to an alternate winner. Ancestry’s decision is final and binding. No cash alternatives to the prizes will be offered, and the prizes are not transferable. You agree to Ancestry making the name and state of winners available on request.  For details of the winners, email worldarchivesproject@ancestry.com.